Also, certain foods can be associated with reflux events, including citrus fruits, chocolate, drinks with caffeine, fatty and fried foods, garlic and onions, mint flavorings, spicy foods, tomato-based foods, like spaghetti sauce, chili, and pizza

Several treatment options are available for children with acid reflux. The “best” treatment depends upon your child’s age, the type and severity of symptoms, and how your child responds to treatment.

Lifestyle changes — Lifestyle changes, such as raising the head of the bed and losing weight, are commonly recommended for adults with GERD. These changes might be helpful for some, but not all, children with mild symptoms of acid reflux.

Lifestyle changes are not recommended as the ONLY treatment for a child with moderate or severe symptoms of GERD. Call your child’s healthcare provider before beginning any treatment for acid reflux.

  Avoid certain foods — Certain foods, including caffeine, chocolate, and peppermint, can relax the muscle in the esophagus, allowing acid to reflux. Acidic foods and drinks, including colas, orange juice, and spicy foods, may also cause more symptoms. Foods that are high in fat, such as pizza and french fries, may also increase reflux by slowing stomach emptying. These foods should be avoided if they seem to cause more symptoms, and particularly if the child is overweight.
  Raise the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches — Although some people only have heartburn for the two to three hours after meals, others wake up at night with heartburn. Raising the head of the bed might help to reduce nighttime heartburn. This raises the head and shoulders higher than the stomach, allowing gravity to prevent acid from backing up into the esophagus.

  You can raise the head of the bed with blocks of wood under the legs of the head of the bed or a foam wedge under the mattress. However, it is not helpful to use extra pillows; this can cause an unnatural bend in the body that increases pressure on the stomach, worsening acid reflux.
 
  Weight loss — In significantly overweight children, losing weight might help reduce reflux. If you are worried about your child’s weight, consult a doctor or nurse for advice on helping the child to lose weight.

  Stay away from tobacco smoke — Smoking or being around tobacco smoke reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth and throat, which can worsen reflux. Saliva helps to neutralize acid. Tobacco smoke also provokes coughing, causing frequent episodes of acid reflux in the esophagus.

  Parents and adolescents who smoke are encouraged to quit.
  Avoid lying down after eating — Lying down with a full stomach makes it easier for acid to reflux. By eating three or more hours before bedtime, you are less likely to have acid reflux while sleeping. Also avoid eating before exercising.

  Chew gum — Chewing gum can increase the amount of saliva you make, which can help to neutralize stomach acid that has entered the esophagus. However, gum is not recommended for children who are less than four years old.